PublishedCapuchin, January 2008 |
ISBN9780955519673 |
FormatSoftcover, 236 pages |
Dimensions19.5cm × 12.5cm |
Within a dozen pages, Galsworthy establishes his mastery of compelling narrative and sketches an irresistible plot. It is the kind of book one can devour in a single day. Much of Galsworthy s achievement lies in the mixture of pathos and humour which he derives from characters little able to express their feelings.
It is hard to think of another male British novelist who explores a lover s heart so painstakingly. There is much else to admire in The Dark Flower, from Galsworthy s impressionistic descriptions and eye for detail to the subtle symmetry he creates between his characters, emphasising the cyclical nature of the story. Published in 1913, it also holds the fascination of a world about to be transformed by war: one in which billets doux could still be delivered by the hand of a discreet manservant, and the residents of Piccadilly kept their horses stabled close by so that they could gallop down to Richmond for fresh air.
